Summary: Rhett Abbott comes to your rescue in Wabangs only convenience store.
Pairing: Rhett Abbott x afab!Reader
Warnings: Harassment, alcohol and swearing.
Word count: 1642
Masterlist
You had stopped at Wabangs only convenience store to pick up a list of stuff you had been compiling throughout the week. You had already gotten most of the list but still needed a handful of stuff. Rounding the corner for the chip aisle you were about to make your way down it until you ran into someone's chest.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t watching where I was going.” You said stepping back a couple feet looking up to see who you ran into. You didn’t recognize the man but the look on his face made you a little uncomfortable. So you went to step around him and go get the chips you needed.
Right when you made your first step he stepped in front of you stopping you in your place. You stepped back and decided to just go down a different aisle instead. As you turned around you felt a hand grab your arm harshly. Hissing you tried to pull your arm out of the man's grasp which only had his hand squeezing harder.
“Let go of me.” you hissed out at him yanking your arm again. He pulled you closer, having you stumble and drop your basket to the floor causing a loud clatter to echo out through the empty store.
“No pretty girl, I think I want you to come home with me.” He said with a nasty grin looking you up and down. The smell of alcohol wafting to your nose had you scrunching your nose up in disgust. You were about to speak up again until you heard a voice behind you and a hand on the small of your back.
“Hey darlin, I found that toothpaste you wanted.” The voice spoke out to you. You turned your head to look up at the face the voice belonged to, very much surprised to see Rhett Abbott. Before you could ask him what he was doing he had dropped the toothpaste into the basket on the floor and had his hand around the guy’s wrist.
“I suggest you get your fucking hand off my girlfriend before we have a fucking problem. I ain’t joking Jay, I’ll tell your wife you’ve been drinking again.” He spat out at the guy, the veins on his hands prominent as the vice grip of his hand became tighter. The guy’s hand started to loosen around your arm until you were free. Rhett's hand stayed around his wrist however.
“I’ll be right back darling, I just gotta take the trash out.” He spoke to you, dragging the guy out by his wrist. You took a deep breath and picked up your basket wondering what the hell just happened. You had never spoken to Rhett a day in your life yet here he was saving your day. Who knows what would’ve happened if he hadn’t been there.
“Hey are you okay? Did he hurt you?” The low drawl of his voice broke you out of your thoughts. You didn’t know what to say to him so you just sat there staring at him, mouth slightly open. You had always known he was attractive but seeing him up close had your head spinning. The stetson on his head hiding his dirty blonde hair was a bit upsetting. Then your eyes made their way to his seeing the concerned look. You slowly worked your gaze down his face. The slight stubble had you wanting to run your fingers across it. You hadn’t realized he was talking until you looked at his lips seeing them moving.
“Sorry, what did you say?” you asked him as you shook your head trying to clear your thoughts. He let out a deep laugh before talking again.
“I asked if he hurt you.” he waved a hand towards your arm. You looked down at your arm knowing it was bruising underneath the long sleeve shirt you had on.
“It’s probably going to bruise a little but I’m alright. Thank you for coming over and helping me. I really appreciate it.” You said, shrugging your shoulders slightly.
“No need to thank me.” He replied sheepishly, scratching at the small beard he was starting to grow. It hadn’t been going too well for him. It was patchy and extremely itchy. But he had been lazy and in need of a change so thought he would try it out.
“Are you doing anything right now?” You asked him boldly, surprised at your own confidence. You had never asked anyone out before. If someone had told you a couple years ago you’d be standing in front of Rhett Abbott asking him out you wouldn't have believed them. You probably would’ve laughed in their face even.
“Uh, just grabbing some groceries.” He answered you hesitantly. He wasn’t sure where the conversation was going and unsure whether he could trust you or not.
“Do you wanna go grab lunch?” You didn’t want to leave his company so soon. You looked at him expectantly as he seemed to ponder the question.
“I could eat.” He replied simply shrugging his shoulders. He figured there wasn’t much harm in eating with you. He thought you were quite pretty anyhow.
“Alright awesome! I’m gonna get the rest of my stuff then I’ll meet you at the diner up the road? Let’s say twenty minutes?” You asked him quickly not wanting to lose your confidence.
“I’ll meet you there in twenty minutes.” He nodded at you. You both separated grabbing your stuff and then you were making your way to the diner. You went in and grabbed a table for the both of you. Your eyes scanned the menu as you waited for the cowboy to join you.
The bell above the door rang out and you looked up from the paper in your hands. You could see a head of dirty blonde hair over the line of tall booths leading towards the door. You called out to him, waving him over to your table. He slid into the booth across from you as he greeted you.
“I was thinking about it as I was driving over here and I swear I know you from somewhere.” He said as he studied your face. He knew everyone in Wabang, the perks of being such a small town. But he couldn’t place a name to your face.
“I went to school here up until Freshman year of high school when my mom got a new job out of state. You were only a year older than me.” You thought back to the younger version of Rhett, big dreams of being a rodeo star. You’d wondered if he had achieved that dream.
“Oh yea that makes sense! What has you back in Wabang?” The question caused a bitter taste in your mouth.
“My grandparents are getting older and need some help around the house. They can’t afford to pay anybody. So I decided to come back and help them out.” It had worried you when you got the call that your grandfather had started showing signs of dementia. But you tried not to dwell on it as you looked at the man sat across from you.
“I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m sure my ma and her group at the church would love to get some meals together for you guys if you’d like?” He asked you as the waitress came up to your table. You both ordered quickly, already knowing what you wanted.
“That might be something I look into. It’s been a little hard for me to get to the store consistently and make food for every meal.” You would have a good amount of weight taken off your shoulders with that help.
“I can give you my ma’s number then.” He held his hand out expectantly. You slipped your phone into his large palm admiring the way it dwarfed the device.
“Why don’t you put your own in it as well.” You asked him hopefully.
“I can do that.” He said with a smirk on his lips. Then he was sliding your phone back toward you.
“When we were in school I remember all you could talk about was being a rodeo star. Is that something you’re currently pursuing?” His face lit up as he replied. Occasionally showing you photos and videos on his phone. The conversation came to a close as your food was brought to your table. You ate in comfortable silence enjoying each other's company.
As the bill was placed on the table you both reached for it. Rhett grabbed it first, however, holding the paper close to him. A look of confusion on his face as he looked at you. You gave him a look of bewilderment as you held your hand out.
“What do you think you’re doing? I ain’t about to let a lady pay for her own food let alone mine.” His country accent was heavy as he spoke giving you a pointed look.
“Please let me pay? I insist actually. As a thank you for being my Knight in flannel.” you pleaded with him as you reached for the bill again. He started to hand it over to you but paused as your fingers grazed the paper.
“Only if you let me take you on a date this weekend.” He bargained with you, a blush came across your face.
“I could eat.” You mirrored his sentence from earlier. He gave you a small smile, hope filling both of you at the prospect of meeting again. You gave him his toothpaste that he had left in your basket at the convenience store before you parted ways. He laughed as you gave him the box. As you slipped into your car you pulled your phone out and changed his contact name from Rhett Abbott to Knight in flannel. You couldn’t wait for this weekend.
A/N: I was supposed to post part of ASLTW but a hiccup came up in my plans to finish it last night so you get Rhett Abbott instead!
